vaping in Australian adolescenceSecondary data collection sources used and why Findings (what did you find from the secondary data collection?)Primary data collection methods you would use to gather...

Vaping in Australian adults
The prevalence of Vaping, often known as e-cigarette usage, among young Australians has experienced a worrisome surge in recent years.
Secondary data collection sources: The prevalence of Vaping, also known as the usage of electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes), among teenagers and young individuals has experienced a significant surge over the past decade (Yazidjoglou, 2024) . Empirical data suggests that the use of e-cigarettes has detrimental effects on both the physical and mental well-being of individuals. As a result, there is a growing apprehension among practitioners and specialists involved in the care of teenagers. Melbourne statistics is utilized as the main source for the collecting of secondary data. Based on the most recent data from the Australian Institute of Health and Wellbeing, almost 50% of individuals between the ages of 18 and 24 have utilized an electronic cigarette at least once during their lives (Javed 2022, jones 2021). The prevalence of e-cigarette usage among young females has witnessed a notable rise, escalating from 2.4% in 2019 to 20% in the period of 2022-2023. The exponential increase in usage among young individuals is a matter of apprehension due to the detrimental health consequences linked to the inhalation of harmful substances in the aerosol produced by e-cigarettes2-4, as well as the correlation between e-cigarette usage and subsequent commencement of tobacco smoking. As of early 2023, 34% of the current vapers were under the age of 25 (Baiden, 2022). The incidence of current Vaping was highest among individuals aged 18-24 (19.8%) for a period of 6 months, followed by those aged 25-34 (17.4%) and 14-17 (14.5%). By 2023, the Australian population over 14 years and above comprised more than 3.5 million individuals who engage in smoking and/or Vaping (Becker, 2021).
Findings: The prevalence of Vaping, specifically the use of e-cigarettes, is increasing among adolescents both in Australia and globally. The act of Vaping has been found to be linked to several mental health difficulties in adolescents, such as symptoms of depression, anxiety, perceived stress, and behaviors related to suicide. Vaping risk factors encompass the utilization of alternative tobacco products, manifestation of depressed symptoms, engagement in suicide-related behaviors, favorable attitudes towards Vaping among friends, and parental smoking (Chatterjee, 2016). There is a need for more awareness and education among families, practitioners, and educators regarding the hazards and negative consequences associated with adolescent Vaping. To mitigate the possible hazards of Vaping, practitioners can regularly evaluate adolescents as well as their families for the use of e-cigarettes (Fairman, 2021). Among this demographic, the proportion of current smokers (11.8%) exceeded that of current vapers (8.9%). Nevertheless, individuals under the age of 35 had a higher prevalence of Vaping compared to smoking. In the elder demographic, there was a greater incidence of smoking compared to Vaping, particularly among individuals aged 50 years and above. Upon further examination of annual prevalence estimates, it is evident that the overall smoking prevalence remained relatively stable over time. However, there was a gradual downward trend observed in the yearly prevalence of exclusive smoking. Conversely, the incidence of exclusive Vaping and dual use of tobacco and e-cigarettes exhibited an upward trend, with significant increases observed from 2020 to early 2023. The rise in both exclusively Vaping and dual usage between 2020 and 2023 was particularly evident among individuals under the age of 35 (Grant, 2019) The promotion of Vaping and the design of e-cigarettes contribute to the encouragement of e-cigarette usage...